Wax spatula



Se'pt. 27, 1932.

M. HARRIS WAX SPATULA Filed April 17. 1931 Patented Sept. 27, 1932PATENT MAX HARRIS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK WAX SPATULA Application filedApril 17,

This invention relates to a wax spatula intended more particularly foruse in the art of technical dentistry.

y1t has for one of its objects the provision of a simple and inexpensivetool of this character wherein the heating element constitutes aself-contained part of the tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dental spatula whoseparts areso constructed and designed as to render the tool convenientfor use as well as afford a material saving of the dentists time in theapplication tliereof,and wherein the wax container and heating elementare disposed in compact relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wax spatula which is soconstructed that the wax container and the tip or point of the tool maybe readily replaced or interchanged.

1n the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved wax spatula. Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectionthereof. Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3 3, Figure 2.Figure. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the heating element ofmy tool.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention lshown in the drawing, myimproved spatula consists of a body made of insulatf ing material whoserear portion constitutes a handle for manipulating the spatula. Thisbody is preferably of tubular form and fitted in its bore orlongitudinal opening 11 is a heating element consisting of a shell ortube 12 containing a suitable resistance element 18 which is adapted tobe connected to a source of electric current. This resistance elementmay be in the form of an asbestos-covered wire extending freely into thetube 12, or if desired, that end of the wire at the front end of theheating tube may be uncovered. At its front end the heating tube 12 isprovided with a spatula point or tip 14 of spoon or other suitable shapewhich is preferably detachable from the heating element and for thispurpose the same has a threaded shank 15 engaging a 1931. Serial No.530,792.

correspondingly threaded opening 16 in the solid frontend of saidheating tube.

At its front end and in the top side thereof the insulated body 10 isprovided with a wax container or holder 17 made of any appropriatematerial and disposed lengthwise of the tool and in contact with theadjoining portion of the heating tube 12, so that the heat from the sameis transmitted to the container to melt the wax and render it fluid. Atits front end the container 17 has a discharge port or opening 18through which the fluid wax is adapted te ow onto the spatula tip 14,the latter being disposed immediately below and forwardly of such port.At its rear end the wax container has a filling opening or neck 19normally closed by a. suitable cap or vented closure 20.

The waX container 17 is preferably so mounted on the body 1() of thetool that it can be readily detached therefrom if desired, and for thispurpose I provide the front end of the spatula-body with a longitudinalgroove 21 which extends rearwardly from the front end of the body andopens at its bottom into the bore 11 of the tool-body, so that the frontportion of the heating tube 12 is exposed on its top side for contactwith the opposing bottom side of the wax container. Y This groove 21 ispreferably of dove-tail shape in cross section and the lower shank orattaching portion 22 of the container is of corresponding shape, wherebythe latter may be readily applied to and removed from the tool-body andyet be reliably held in place.

For the purpose of regulating the flow of melted wax from thecontainervl onto the spatula 14, a suitable closure or valve member 23is provided which is adapted to extend across the discharge port 18.This valve member may be slidingly mounted on the front end of thecontainer 17 in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2, the same beingguided between suitable lugs 24. At its upper end the valve memberterminates in a suitable finger piece 25.

This improved dental spatula is very light and convenient to handle andcan thereby be used efliciently by the dentist to do accurate work.Furthermore, it is exceedingly conipact in construction and can be usedfor a long period of time with a single Wax charge and with a minimumexpenditure of electrical energy.

I claim as my invention l. A device of the character described,comprising a body having 'a longitudinal opening therein, an electricheating element contained in said body-opening, a Wax container mountedon said body in contact with said heating element and having a dischargeport therein, and a spatula projecting forwardly from the body inheat-conductingirelation to the heating element and adapted to receivethe melted Wax from said containerport.

2. A device of the character described, comprising an insulated tubularbody, an electric heating element arranged therein and terminatingadjacent to the front end of said body, a Wax applicator projectingforwardly from the body and connected to the front end of said heatingelement, and a container for Wax detachably applied to one side of saidbody in contact With the heating element.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a body having alongitudinal opening therein and a groove at one end intersecting saidopening, an electric heating element disposed in the body-opening, a Waxapplicator projecting from the grooved end of the body and inheat-conducting relation to the heating element, and a Wax-containerfitted in said body-groove inthe thermal contact with said heatingelement and having a port therein for discharging the melted Wax ontosaid applicator.

4. A dental vvaX spatula, comprising an insulated tubular body having alongitudinal groove in its top side and at the front end thereof, saidgroove opening at its bottom into the bore of the body, an electricheating element disposed in said body-bore and having its front endexposed to and constituting a bottom for said groove, a Wax containerdetachably fitted in the body-groove and in thermal contact with theheating element, said container having a filling opening at its rear endand a discharge port at its Jfront end, and a Wax applicator projectingfrom the front end of the body and detachably connected to said heatingelement, said applicator being in thermal contact With said element andarranged to receive the Wax from the discharge port of said container.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a body including ahandle portion, an electric heating element contained substantiallycentrally Within said body, a Wax container mounted on said body at oneside of its longitudinal axis and in contact with said heating elementand having a discharge port therein, a spatula projecting forwardly fromsaid body in substantially axial alinement therewith and adapted toreceive the melted wax from said container, and a. valve member appliedto the front end of said container for regulating the discharge of Waxfrom the discharge port of the container.

6. A spatula of the character described, comprising an insulated bodyhaving an opening therein and a longitudinal groove in, its top sideintersecting said opening, an electric heating element arranged in saidbodyopening and exposed to and constituting a bottom for said groove,and a Wax container fitted in said groove in thermal contact with Y theheating element and having a discharge said container.

' MAX HARRIS.

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